BUOYANCY

Archimedes’ Principle
A principle discovered by the Greek
scientist Archimedes that states that “any
body immersed in a fluid is acted upon by
an upward force (buoyant force) equal
to the weight of the displaced fluid”
 This principle, also known as the law of
hydrostatics, applies to both floating and
submerged bodies to all fluids
 Archimedes’ Principle
 Consider the body immersed in a fluid of unit
weight γ. The horizontal components of the
force acting on the body are all in equilibrium,
since the vertical projection of the body in
opposite sides is the same. The upper face of
the body is subject to a vertical downward
force which is equal to the weight of the fluid
above it and the lower face is subjected to an
upward force equal to the weight of real or
imaginary liquid above it. The net upward force
acting on the body is the buoyant force.
Archimedes’ Principle
𝐵𝐹 = 𝐹𝑣2 − 𝐹𝑣1
𝐵𝐹 = 𝛾𝑉𝑜𝑙2 − 𝛾𝑉𝑜𝑙1

𝐵𝐹 = 𝛾𝑉𝐷
Where:
𝛾 = unit weight of the fluid
𝑉𝐷 = volume displaced. Volume of the body
below the liquid surface
Archimedes’ Principle
𝑠𝑝. 𝑔𝑟. 𝑜𝑓 𝑡𝑕𝑒 𝑏𝑜𝑑𝑦 𝛾𝑏𝑜𝑑𝑦
𝑉𝐷 = 𝑉= 𝑉
𝑠𝑝. 𝑔𝑟. 𝑜𝑓 𝑙𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑑 𝛾𝑙𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑑

𝑠𝑝. 𝑔𝑟. 𝑜𝑓 𝑡𝑕𝑒 𝑏𝑜𝑑𝑦 𝛾𝑏𝑜𝑑𝑦

𝐷= 𝐻= 𝐻
𝑠𝑝. 𝑔𝑟. 𝑜𝑓 𝑙𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑑 𝛾𝑙𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑑
Archimedes’ Principle
Sample Problem
1. CE Board Nov 1977. An iceberg having
specific gravity of 0.92 is floating on salt
water of sp. gr. Of 1.03. if the volume of
ice above the water surface is 1000
cu.m., what is the total volume of ice?
 Archimedes’ Principle
Sample Problem
2. CE Board May 2003, Nov. 2002, May 2000, Nov.
1992. A block of wood 0.60m x 0.60m x h meters in
dimensions was thrown into the water and floats
with 0.18 m projecting above the water surface.
The same block was thrown into a container of a
liquid having a specific gravity of 0.9 and it floats
with 0.14m projecting above the surface.
Determine the following:
a. the value of h
b. specific gravity of the block
c. weight of the block
 Archimedes’ Principle
Sample Problem
3. A stone cube 280mm on each side and
weighing 425N is lowered into the tank containing
a layer of water 1.50m thick over a layer of
mercury. Determine the position of the block
when it has reached equilibrium
4. A hollow cylinder 1m in diameter and 2m high
weighs 3825 N.
a. How many kN of lead weighing
110kN/m3 must be fasten to the outside bottom
of the cylinder to make it float with 1.5m
submerged.
b. How many kN of lead if it is placed inside
the cylinder?
 Archimedes’ Principle
Sample Problem
5. From the figure below, it is shown that the gate
is 1.0m wide and is hinged at the bottom of the
gate. Compute the following:
a. the hydrostatic force in kN acting on the
gate
b. the location of the center of pressure of
the gate from the hinge
c. the minimum volume of concrete (𝛾 =
23.6kN/m3) needed to keep the gate in closed
position
 Archimedes’ Principle
Sample Problem
6. A ship having a displacement of 24,000 tons
and a draft of 34feet in ocean enters a harbor of
fresh water. If the horizontal section of the ship at
the waterline is 32,000 ft2, what depth of fresh
water is required to float the ship? Assume the
marine ton is 2,240lb and that sea water and fresh
water is 64pcf and 62.2 pcf, respectively.